MindStalker:Its for the dad, often new babies are created withing a few months of childbirth.

In the name of God; HOW?

I am not asking the mechanics, simply when? Mom is covered in alternate coats of crap, milk vurps, and not infrequently outright vomit. Mom is getting up every couple hours to run the cycle. When is there an opportunity for sexy time in all that? We had to wait almost two years to set about making another.

This is one of those excellent ideas that, if implemented in the U.S., would be politicized, undermined, corrupted, taken over and turned into a steaming pile of corporate welfare before the bill had even left committee.

dragonchild:This is one of those excellent ideas that, if implemented in the U.S., would be politicized, undermined, corrupted, taken over and turned into a steaming pile of corporate welfare before the bill had even left committee.

6/4/13: A Senate bill is introduced in commitee to provide all new children with a box full of useful things.

6/5/13: Right Wing Blogosphere explodes in outrage over the government trying to take over our children's minds.

6/6/13: Fox News reports that Obama's new program, called the "Islamist Youth" effort by some, is a scandal worse than twenty Watergates combined with finding a pile of dead hookers in the Lincoln bedroom.

6/7/13: Other cable news outlets report that even though the box just contains clothes and health supplies most analysts agree is would be bad for the government shove propaganda into the home of every new child.

6/9/13: The Sunday talk shows feature the Senator who introduced the bill, attacking him for foolishly instituting a program that would cost Americans precious pennies every year. Doesn't he know there's a recession?

6/24/13: The bill is brought before the Senate having been edited so that it is financed by letting corporations sponsor it with branded items. The decision about what items are included and which corporations sponsor the bill requires an addendum hundreds of pages long.

7/1/13: The bill goes to the House. Ted Cruz introduces a competing bill to give every baby a copy of the Bible, a FairTax pamphlet, and a chastity belt. It dies in committee but the media reports on it heavily for days.

7/4/13: The House adds a rider to the bill repealing Obamacare and requiring that the box not go to any who receive welfare, as well as several more regulations about what can be included in the box.

7/7/13: The Conference Committee strikes the Obamacare resolution and synthesizes a new bill from the ones passed by the House and Senate.

7/22/13: The new bill passes Congress and is signed by the President. Nobody really knows how it will work in the real world.

9/17/14: New parents are finally allowed to fill out forms to request the box for their baby. The forms require a high fee, credit check, and drug test to screen out those that are undeserving. Processing takes 14-18 months as local governments sort out the parents eligibility and figure out what they are allowed to put in the box this year. The box usually contains a corporate branded blanket, a McDonalds gift card, a voucher for a free Bible, and several cans of corn.

Sidoko:Meanwhile the US has the highest infant mortality rate in the developed world.

But, hey, SOCIALISM!

The US is #1 (or at least shockingly high) in all kinds of categories (bad stuff) across the developed world. Bottom line IMHO is that it's absolutely hands-down the worst first world nation to be in if you aren't upper-middle class.

odinsposse:dragonchild: This is one of those excellent ideas that, if implemented in the U.S., would be politicized, undermined, corrupted, taken over and turned into a steaming pile of corporate welfare before the bill had even left committee.

6/4/13: A Senate bill is introduced in commitee to provide all new children with a box full of useful things.

6/5/13: Right Wing Blogosphere explodes in outrage over the government trying to take over our children's minds.

6/6/13: Fox News reports that Obama's new program, called the "Islamist Youth" effort by some, is a scandal worse than twenty Watergates combined with finding a pile of dead hookers in the Lincoln bedroom.

6/7/13: Other cable news outlets report that even though the box just contains clothes and health supplies most analysts agree is would be bad for the government shove propaganda into the home of every new child.

6/9/13: The Sunday talk shows feature the Senator who introduced the bill, attacking him for foolishly instituting a program that would cost Americans precious pennies every year. Doesn't he know there's a recession?

6/24/13: The bill is brought before the Senate having been edited so that it is financed by letting corporations sponsor it with branded items. The decision about what items are included and which corporations sponsor the bill requires an addendum hundreds of pages long.

7/1/13: The bill goes to the House. Ted Cruz introduces a competing bill to give every baby a copy of the Bible, a FairTax pamphlet, and a chastity belt. It dies in committee but the media reports on it heavily for days.

7/4/13: The House adds a rider to the bill repealing Obamacare and requiring that the box not go to any who receive welfare, as well as several more regulations about what can be included in the box.

7/7/13: The Conference Committee strikes the Obamacare resolution and synthesizes a new bill from the ones passed by the House and Senate.

odinsposse:dragonchild: This is one of those excellent ideas that, if implemented in the U.S., would be politicized, undermined, corrupted, taken over and turned into a steaming pile of corporate welfare before the bill had even left committee.

6/4/13: A Senate bill is introduced in commitee to provide all new children with a box full of useful things.

6/5/13: Right Wing Blogosphere explodes in outrage over the government trying to take over our children's minds.

6/6/13: Fox News reports that Obama's new program, called the "Islamist Youth" effort by some, is a scandal worse than twenty Watergates combined with finding a pile of dead hookers in the Lincoln bedroom.

6/7/13: Other cable news outlets report that even though the box just contains clothes and health supplies most analysts agree is would be bad for the government shove propaganda into the home of every new child.

6/9/13: The Sunday talk shows feature the Senator who introduced the bill, attacking him for foolishly instituting a program that would cost Americans precious pennies every year. Doesn't he know there's a recession?

6/24/13: The bill is brought before the Senate having been edited so that it is financed by letting corporations sponsor it with branded items. The decision about what items are included and which corporations sponsor the bill requires an addendum hundreds of pages long.

7/1/13: The bill goes to the House. Ted Cruz introduces a competing bill to give every baby a copy of the Bible, a FairTax pamphlet, and a chastity belt. It dies in committee but the media reports on it heavily for days.

7/4/13: The House adds a rider to the bill repealing Obamacare and requiring that the box not go to any who receive welfare, as well as several more regulations about what can be included in the box.

7/7/13: The Conference Committee strikes the Obamacare resolution and synthesizes a new bill from the ones passed by the House and Senate.

Cloudchaser Sakonige the Red Wolf:"Mothers have a choice between taking the box, or a cash grant, currently set at 140 euros, but 95% opt for the box as it's worth much more"

So if the box is worth more, why is taking cash an option?

Maybe it's because the clothes are recyclable and can be passed down to a younger sibling so having cash so you can purchase things that don't come in the box (like extra nappies and bottles for storing breast milk) might be a good idea.

Trillian Astra:Cloudchaser Sakonige the Red Wolf: "Mothers have a choice between taking the box, or a cash grant, currently set at 140 euros, but 95% opt for the box as it's worth much more"

So if the box is worth more, why is taking cash an option?

Maybe it's because the clothes are recyclable and can be passed down to a younger sibling so having cash so you can purchase things that don't come in the box (like extra nappies and bottles for storing breast milk) might be a good idea.

In fact, most of the things in the box, including the box itself, can be re-used if taken care of. Only the consumables (nappy cream, bra pads, and condoms) aren't, and they make up just a fraction of the box.

dragonchild:This is one of those excellent ideas that, if implemented in the U.S., would be politicized, undermined, corrupted, taken over and turned into a steaming pile of corporate welfare before the bill had even left committee.

I'd love to see this as a topic of discussion on 'The McLaughlin Group'.

Trillian Astra:Cloudchaser Sakonige the Red Wolf: "Mothers have a choice between taking the box, or a cash grant, currently set at 140 euros, but 95% opt for the box as it's worth much more"

So if the box is worth more, why is taking cash an option?

Maybe it's because the clothes are recyclable and can be passed down to a younger sibling so having cash so you can purchase things that don't come in the box (like extra nappies and bottles for storing breast milk) might be a good idea.

They gave an example in the article. The mother had an older boy, she did not need more clothes for the new sister.